This past Tuesday at the Appling County Courthouse I was honored and humbled to be a part of the Veterans Day ceremony. This ceremony was held on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. This year the gathering included more citizens than had been there in the past several years. This warmed my heart because those members of the “Greatest Generation” are leaving us at too fast a pace. And as a country, state, county and city we need to never forget their sacrifices and never quit showing our gratitude for what they did for us. Not only the veterans of World War II but all of the veterans of all of the wars and conflicts in which our country has been involved. As I stood there looking over the faces of the crowd my thoughts raced back to my school years. During those days I played in the band both in elementary and high school. Every Veterans Day we would march in the parade that commemorated the service of our veterans. There would be bands, floats, military contingents and last but surely not the least would be the veterans who march in the parade. Some with their military uniforms some with their VFW uniforms some with their American Legion uniforms, all being honored by our citizenry. The schools would turn out and all the students along with the other citizens of the county would line the streets all throughout the parade and waved American flags and cheered the veterans as they went by. The parade would terminate at the city gymnasium where there would be a gigantic barbecue complete with dignitaries. All this was done to honor our veterans.

In recent years the numbers have dwindled. The parades have ceased. The honoring of our veterans has also dwindled. Although we have a fine monument on the courthouse square we should be honoring them with thousands of people lining the streets as in the past. Somehow we need to get back to a time and an attitude of thanks and celebrate what these veterans have sacrificed on our part. I do not pretend to know the reason for the small turnout nor do I pretend to know the answer on how to stimulate more interest in honoring our veterans. It may take more publicity in the local newspapers and on the radio stations. It may take more education to teach the students what has been done for them in the past. It may take more of us telling our friends and neighbors and bringing them into remembrance of those sacrifices.

The last parade honoring our veterans was on Memorial Day several years ago. We need to rediscover our patriotism and our gratitude toward our veterans. We need to ensure that those who remain in our midst do not feel forgotten or unappreciated. On our busy days as we pass the courthouse we need to take time and look toward the monument that sits there and give thanks to Almighty God that those people whose names appear there were willing to go fight and possibly die for us.

I read with great interest Mr. Bill Bowers letter concerning the need to Honor Veterans. First I would like to call attention to the fact that Bill has always been a patriot for our country through thick and thin. I have known him all his life and have never known anyone who loved and supported
his Country as Bill has.

The only semblance of a true Veterans organizations in Baxley is the American Legion and the Vietnam Veterans of America. There is another pseudo organization but in reality it is just a party house for good time Charlies, Veteran or not.

The American Legion is led by Dennis Norris. They aid and assist Veterans with their needs and are involved in the support of the Dublin Veterans Administration Hospital and the local Nursing Home They do good work . The Vietnam Veterans of America are also involved in charitable work.

Veterans do not seek glory or adulation. There is no glory in war nor any sense of self satisfaction after taking human life.Veterans are not Honored by the fact that they fought life and death battles with those the US Government deemed to be enemies. Any man or woman who is placed in that position will fight for their life and more importantly the lives of those around them.

What they are to be Honored for is their willingness to sacrifice their life or limb for their Country and the freedom of it's citizens. All the Veterans all the way back to the beginning of this Country have fought and many have died so that We as Americans may continue to reap the benefits of freedom.

Appling County is the home of hundreds of veterans. Many of them have served with distinction and have been disabled while serving. They deserve
only to be treated with respect and Honored on the Holidays that mark their service. Our freedom depends on those who sign up to serve the Country and Those who swear to protect our country from enemies foreign and domestic. Without this group of young men and women all those heartfelt orations and threats to our adversaries uttered in Washington mean nothing.

I send my best wishes for a happy and prosperous new Year to everyone.

Fred crosby US Navy (ret)

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